Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla Reflects on Jaylen Brown Departure and Offseason Moves
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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Jaylen Brown’s willingness to challenge everyone around him forced the coaching staff to raise its own standards. In an interview with Celtics Blog, Mazzulla called Brown’s competitiveness the trait he will miss most after the All-Star guard was sent to Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade.
“He wasn’t afraid to push you,” Mazzulla said. “He held teammates, coaches and everyone else to a higher standard.” Brown is coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 28.7 points and earned second-team All-NBA honors while helping an injury-depleted roster finish second in the Eastern Conference.
Looking ahead, Mazzulla discussed the free-agent addition of center Mitchell Robinson, who left the Knicks one season after helping New York win a championship. During his recruiting call, Mazzulla reminded Robinson of the “Hack-A-Mitch” strategy Boston used in the 2025 playoffs. “I told him the fouls were a compliment,” the coach said, adding that Robinson’s arrival deepens a frontcourt that already features Neemias Queta and Luka Garza.
First-round pick Hugo Gonzalez has already dealt with trade rumors. According to multiple reports, Milwaukee asked Boston to include Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman—along with Brown—in an offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Celtics declined, and the Bucks ultimately accepted Miami’s package instead. “In this league you can be traded at any time,” Gonzalez said. “If you want to play here, you have to understand that.”
Boston also liked what it saw from second-rounder Chris Cenac Jr. in his Summer League debut. The 6-11 forward delivered 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks off the bench Friday, drilling a three-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime. “We saw him put it on the floor, shoot the three, set screens—his rebounding was incredible,” Summer League coach Amile Jefferson said. “He can make an immediate impact.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
